The USDA/ARS has the national capability and demonstrated performance to lead U.S. food animal research and technology development to enhance the sustainable and economically viable production of food animal products in the United States.USDA/ARS and partners conduct a food animal research program that has contributed significantly to national growth and global competitiveness of the U.S. production industries. A strong USDA commitment to food animal production research, technology development, and technology transfer through ARS and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA)in cooperation with university and private research programs, and linked to State and regional agricultural extension programs, is critical to energize industry development, improve production efficiency, and assure quality and wholesomeness of food animal products.

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the intramural research agency for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and is one of four agencies that make up the Research, Education, and Economics mission area of the department. The ARS budget is allocated to research conducted in 22 national program areas. Research is conducted in 108 laboratories by ~2,200 full-time scientists within a total workforce of ~8,000 ARS employees. The ARS national program addressing animal production is NP 101 – Food Animal Production.